Feedback on the new long game format

[Sami]

As you've probably read from the news the Jet Age game world will test the new concept of long game scenarios. The idea is that the same game world runs "all the way" from about 1950s to 2020s which are currently the two time limit points in AWS system. The idea of the long game has been talked already for a while and now was a good chance to put the test into operation. Naturally, as always, you can join and leave as you like and billing for the scenario is the same as before, 1Cr per week.

The server is currently named "The Jet Age #8", but as time progresses the theme name will change accordingly. After the initial start the server name will probably be written in style "Server #1 - The Jet Age" and later "Server #1 - Dawn of the Millennium" and so forth. If this long world idea is suitable there would be three or four parallel long game worlds, each being in the different "theme era" at any given time (ie. world starts are spaced some 3-5 monts apart). And whenever some world comes to an end, it restarts from the beginning (with different / new economic variables to randomize the fuel prices etc from prev. world).

The game starts with short days (20 mins), but will move to 25 or 30 minute days in the 1970s/1980s and up to 35-45 mins per day in the modern era. This is on one hand planned to speed up the game process, as standard 35 min days would make the world last 1,5-2 years which is a too long time span, and also on the other hand move the game more rapidly forward for the sake of players since the early days have less "action" due to limited demand etc.

Generally .. I'd be interested in hearing about this plan. Naturally there are some "if" items still involved with a long game world and some unknown elements of the technical issues and system which may arise, but hopefully nothing major.

You can discuss the topic generally here, and for any improvement ideas regarding usability on longer game worlds please refer to these threads:
https://www.airwaysim.com/forum/index.php/topic,33078.0.html
https://www.airwaysim.com/forum/index.php/topic,19948.0.html
(or make a new topic at the feature rq. forum if such an request does not already exist and it does not fit into those topics)

[DavidBurnie]

I love the concept and look forward to playing through it. I am curious to see how different events play out. I have decided to start in Iran, and in 1955 the world is open to me (I am actually a little curious about the demand between Tehran and Tel-Aviv as it seems to be that during the Pahlavi years it might be stronger) but how is my life going to change in 25 years? High hopes for this game though.

[swiftus27]

I hope to not make another failing airline

[TPMP]

Its an interesting challenge which will require a lot of commitment for such a long game. I'm toying with the idea of doing it. I'm not too keen on the 50's, 60's or 70's era, but I might consider jumping in around the mid to late 70's and try and see it through.

Good luck to everyone taking part from the beginning!

[dmoose42]

Overall I think the changing speed (20 mins to 35 or longer) is a good idea, although 20 minutes does seem a bit fast.  We'll see how it goes.  It's probably the only way to get through a long-world game in a reasonable amount of time.  My only suggestion is that when you slow it down, I wouldn't go slower than 35 minutes a day.

Cheers.

[knobbygb]

I like the idea, especially as the last JA game ended just as things were hotting up - lots of new types being introduced, demand rising rapidly, fuel prices rising etc.

I worry about the day length.  I prefer the longer days but I totally understand that the world would just run for too long otherwise.  I'm not sure I agree with Sami's comment that there will be less action at the start and more towards the end.  Yes, the first few months will have little action but also I thing the last 15 or 20 years will be very static too as everything will be locked up to the big airlines (hopefully me amongst them!) and a lot of people will loose interest and drift away.  I'm not sure how many latecomers there will be either.  I assume the 220 limit will rise as demand increases.  Perhaps the day length should lower to 20 again towards the end.

[esquireflyer]

I really like the faster ticks of 20 minute days. Sometimes with 35 minute days it feels like watching grass grow, especially in the first few years of game when you have only a few planes and less action is happening.

[dmoose42]

Yeah, i'll admit that i wasn't too excited about the 20 minute days, but i think it has definitely worked so far.  Now when I switch back to MT, it seems like time moves sooooo slowly...

[Lambert_M]

Can I just say I LUV the new "Destination" feature in "Manage routes"! This new feature has solved so many of route questions. So LFs can be evaluated across the board for the same destination. Me like! :-)

[Sami]

The server is currently named "The Jet Age #8", but as time progresses the theme name will change accordingly. After the initial start the server name will probably be written in style "Server #1 - The Jet Age" and later "Server #1 - Dawn of the Millennium" and so forth.

By the way, please be mentally prepared for changes in the game world naming scheme.

All current game worlds will be renamed to the style quoted above. This is to avoid confusions, and to make it better since for example the current Jet Age isn't in that era anymore (long game world).

So game names will consist of an "ident" and then "theme" parts in the name. So "Server #1" being the game ident, and "The Jet Age" tells the scenario's theme or era. It can be for example "Server #5 - Beginner's World" and so on.

(unless there are other thoughts of this?)

[dmoose42]

I'm not sure I like the server 1 idea with changing the game era in the name idea...(great english there i know...)

What do you think about just calling the long worlds, Long World #1, Long World #2 etc?

[schro]

For the technically inclined, we will call shenanigans on a server number methodology because we know there's only one server running all game worlds (powered by magic dust and a hamster on a running wheel).

More seriously, I think having a name for a game, perhaps following the alphabet then hyphonate the era after it might work better. Not sure the best naming convention... Cities, plane makers, countries, animals....

For example:

Aardvark - the jet age
Baboon - air travel boom
Constellation - dorm
...

[Jona L.]

For the technically inclined, we will call shenanigans on a server number methodology because we know there's only one server running all game worlds (powered by magic dust and a hamster on a running wheel).

Loveing it

I like sami's suggestion, but with a slight difference.... instead of servers call it "World #1 - [ERA]" or "Game #1 - [ERA]"... the "Server ..." thing is as mentioned above by schro just odd


oh, and as for feedback:

ME LIKES!!
I'm glad that proper fleet planning has to happen now, while in former -say- DotM games you could just settle with DC-10 till the end, you are now forced to move on in plane generations. And I guess we will see some airlines just keeping production lines open till the end of the game, and other flying their metal till it falls apart.

cheers,
[SC] Jona L.

[Kadachiman]

Airwaysim Gameworld # 1, # 2, etc sounds like the way to go.

The new long game format is proving to be very interesting with players by necessity trying different strategies rather than follow the same game reprint

- Airbus & Boeing production is booked solid so other players are having to look at alternatives e.g. MD....or maybe even Tupolev
- fleet renewals need to be planned way ahead
- different strategies will emerge e.g. some players will start D checking airframes and follow the Delta model

[LemonButt]

Why not make the gameworld names actual names?

Airbus World (current era: _____), Boeing World, Douglas World, etc.

OR

Concorde World (current era: ____), Jumbo Jet World, etc.

OR

Orville Wright World (current era: ____), Wilbur Wright World, Charles Lindberg World, Amelia Earhart World, etc.


Right now we use acronyms like JA, DOTM, and MT to describe worlds.  If the eras change then these become useless and S1 or otherwise for server number is kinda lame.  If I said AW (Airbus World) or JJW (Jumbo Jet World) or AEW (Amelia Earhart World) then people would know what I'm referencing.  You could even use all of the above names so that you never have a repeat.

[[SC] - King Kong]

Who is Amelia Earthart? never heard of

[LemonButt]

Who is Amelia Earthart? never heard of

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart

[[ATA] Sunbao]

Who is Amelia Earthart? never heard of

Seriuous!!!?!?!!?!

[[SC] - King Kong]

Of course not.

but many don't know about that, don't forget this game must not become toooo technical. (not for me, but many other less experienced players)

[[ATA] Sunbao]

Of course not.

but many don't know about that, don't forget this game must not become toooo technical. (not for me, but many other less experienced players)

Lier lier pants on fire